Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra may return home under a similar model used by her brother Thaksin, according to an adviser to the prime minister, Pichit Chuenban.

Mr Pichit said Yingluck, the country's only female prime minister, fled overseas in 2017 shortly before a court sentenced her to five years in jail for negligence in a rice subsidy scheme.

"There is nothing complicated about the [return] process," he said. "It will depend on [Yingluck] on when she decides to come home."

Asked whether she plans to return to Thailand, Mr Pichit said he doesn't know yet. "We haven't been in contact for a long time."

Thaksin, who was also convicted of crimes, received a royal pardon after returning home, reducing his jail term from eight years to one year. He is now on parole.

Mr Pichit said a similar model could be used by Yingluck to return.


Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, Justice Minister, on Thursday declined to comment on Yingluck's potential return.

When asked if she would be sent to prison after landing in Thailand, he said "yes", adding there is no double standard.

Asked if Yingluck could use Thaksin's model, Pol Col Tawee said "there is no model or anything like that". The term "model" was created by the media, he said.